Travel Thoughts and Travel Guides

Maqueregaen Falls in Roxas, Palawan, Philippines

The two goals for that day were (1) get to Maqueregaen Falls and (2) go back home.

Maqueregaen Falls in Roxas, Palawan

It was 7:35 AM and our motorcycle was turning to left from the National Highway towards the inner parts of Brgy. Iraan in Roxas, Palawan. We were already running around 20 minutes heading north from the town proper of Roxas. On the rough road as fast as we could, we passed by wooden bridges and some children walking to school. Always picking the road on the left upon encountering forks until we reached the nipa hut where our friends were waiting.

Intersection of the National Highway and the road to inner Iraan.

The house where our friends were waiting for us.

It was around the summer of 2014 that we planned to visit Maqueregaen Falls. We never really had a concrete plan to visit here due to our busy schedules, but finally late January 2015 we were able to decide on what date we should proceed. And when the last monday of February 2015 came, we almost forgot that this trip existed, but it was all thanks to my friends that we still came here as this was already a set plan and everyone was excited to see a new waterfalls around the area.

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We still waited for our other friends to arrive and finally at around 8:35 AM we started walking. Asking around I thought one of us have been there already, but it turns out that my friends who has lived for more than a decade in Roxas have not seen the waterfalls.

Passing by the river that was being quarried and a ranch area for carabaos (water buffalos) and cows we reached again another house where we waited for our guide. The only person who knew where the waterfalls existed.

This trip was odd for me. Usually, I’m the one arranging trips to places but for this trip it was my friends from Roxas who arranged it all for us. It was a welcome relaxation as planning a trip is really a challenging task.

With our guide we started walking around 9:45 AM. We did a lot of river crossing which they told me later that was actually only one river. Low rollings hills, small plantations and big trees.

Since I was the weakest of the group in terms of walking, I was the one at the back of the group and taking photos were not even helping on my speed. Eventually, the group was divided into two. The group ahead were the fastest while our group had many photos.

A big tree that was cut and had new branches.

It was generally a happy trek towards Maqueregaen Falls except for the harsh reality that I faced in terms of kaingin farming. Somehow kaingin farmers would cut down big trees for them to plant on good soil. I hope somebody would do something about this.

Kaingin

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Our friends who went ahead of us waited at one of the small waterfalls in the area. When we arrived we all continued as they were already well rested while waiting for us and our group were pretending that we were not tired. Luckily, Maqueregaen Falls was only a around 200 meters from there.

When we arrived some of our friends were already on one of the upper tiers of the waterfalls. Though the bottom is already amazing they shouted that the upper portion was more spectacular.

We all decided to go up, but then when I was trying to climb the almost 70 degree wall, I realized that there were only penny size footholes! At first I decided not to climb the waterfalls so everyone went ahead of me.

One of the people in our group went down to guide me. What we needed was something for me to hold on to like a rope. Luckily, there were baging (vines) in the area which we repositioned to help me go up the upper tier of the waterfalls.

Finally, when I was on the third tier where everyone was. They told me that they were relieved that I got up there. It was challenging to go up there!!! At least for me.

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We had lunch there and when we were all happy with our experience at the falls we decided to go down, which was more of a challenge than going up. Luckily, there were again baging in the area which we also repositioned to help us descend the falls.

As much as I was happy with us using the baging, I wished we had known that we were climbing a steep wall for us to have brought ropes so that we could have lowered our environmental with the area. At least next time we visit we know that we should bring this.

When we reached the base of the waterfalls we took a group picture and started walking back. 1:00 PM.

The river is widening at the lower portion of the river due to quarrying. 🙁

At 4:14 PM, we were back at the house where our friends waited for us earlier but before we go on our separate ways we had coffee and kamote, then some coconuts. We left at 5:34 PM at Iraan and we arrived at the town proper of Roxas at 6:04 PM.

So far Maqueregaen Falls is one of the must see spots here in Roxas, Palawan. The falls is worth it go to, but doing the trek and hearing the many different birds is a plus.

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